Since the last time we did this roundup, there have been a few changes. The prices of Intel’s 45nm processors have dropped slowly, and in a surprising but most welcome move, ATI has re-entered the graphics stakes with the introduction of its 4850 chipset. Another piece of good news for Mumbai folk is that Dell is now available over the counter at a few select locations. Keeping all this in mind, here's our latest refresh of the Rs 60,000 Gaming PC.
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
In our last roundup we had gone with Intel’s E8200 processor. This time we've taken a step forward and chosen the direct upgrade to that – the E8400. Similar to the E8200, it’s based on Intel’s 45nm process, has a clock of speed of 3.0 GHz, and runs on a 1333 MHz FSB. It also has 6MB L2 cache. Considering that experienced overclockers can easily make it hit 4GHz, you get a CPU that's perfect for this roundup.
Motherboard: Abit IP35-E
Abit as a firm needs no introduction. Having been a premier OC board maker for a decade now, its products are very reliable and can withstand a lot of stress. The IP35-E is based on the Intel P35 series of chipsets and offers native support for the 1333 MHz FSB. The board lacks onboard graphics, but does offer a single PCIe 16x slot, 2 PCIe x1 slot, 8 USB slots, 3 PCI slots, and 4 SATA 2 (3GB) slots.
RAM: Kingston DDR2 800 (2GB)
A single stick of DDR2 RAM is now available for just Rs 1,850. And Kingston, with its product lifetime warranty and great quality, is the perfect choice.
Is this config available in Delhi (Nehru Place)? I checked a few and they didn't know about Abit. What abt a config with gigabyte mobos. Can anybody help with that... some config that's available in Nehru Place.
